Life of Newark's oldest-surviving Romany Traveller Robert 'Bob' Wilson is celebrated

The life of Newark's oldest-surviving Romany Traveller was celebrated as part of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month.

The legacy of Robert Wilson, who passed in March this year, was honoured in a window display by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Known locally as Bob, he was born in a reading wagon — also known as a vardo — in Brigg on July 5, 1923.

Travelling in and around the Norfolk area for most of his working life, he moved to settle in Newark in 1996.

Bob was a well-known carpet salesman and would tour the country hiring venues and displaying his goods for sale. He was always smartly dressed in his suit and Trilby hat.

He also built miniature reading wagons — exact copies of the one he was born in, with working fires.

During Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in 2019, Bob attended a special exhibition and displayed one of his reading wagons.

The wagon he was born in is now part of a museum in America. In his later years, if you mentioned you were going to the US — he would always ask if you had seen his wagon.

The district council said Bob was a gentleman who some had the pleasure of meeting, a true Romany and a true gentleman.

Bob had been poorly for some years and was supported by family and friends before he died, aged 97, in March this year.